As I recall, Franklin was still closer to his old self in that series, generally operating in the low to mid 130's, and getting a bit of swing. I remember later that summer he bowled a couple of really good spells against India at the Basin, and we all got very excited that old Jimmy was back. Sigh. The point is, he was nowhere near as good as he was pre-2007 WC, but it wasn't really until the following year that he completely shelved his bowling to become a batting allrounder.

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Nah, he was terrible bar one spell. That spell where he tried to kill Nash then got him out really accentuated the difference between what he could have been and what he was in that series.

Before that Windies series no one knew he was bowling pies. He was quoted as saying that he was hitting the gloves really hard and it would be interesting to see what the speed guns said about him as it had been a while. Once the series started he bowled averagely - except for the Nash dismissal but even then the commentators were questioning how a 120km bowler had bounced anybody out.

I remember later that summer he bowled a couple of really good spells against India at the Basin, and we all got very excited that old Jimmy was back.

I must have missed those discussions. he got one to cut towards slips to Gambhir and then followed it up with one that cut in and trapped him in front. It was quality bowling but he never did anything else I can recall in the series. He just tried to bowl miracle balls after that instead of mounting consistent pressure. It was like he had no moxy.

But going into that Windies series he was regarded as good. Hence my point that we shouldn't rate our current bowling attack as being a cut above.

As an aside - I think that if Hadlee can come of 9 steps then Franklin needs to as well. Just accept you are a 120kms bowler - and get a run up to match your speed. It would help considerably with over rates.

And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

Oh **** me. India's now lured us into setting a two-test precedent, "in a nod to the upcoming world T20".

If you ever see 'third Test of New Zealand's tour' written again, it could well be Bangladesh. Two tests are slated for England next May "as an Ashes warm-up", so that'll be all of the major nations who've succeeded in that little de-friending coup of precedence.

Oh **** me. India's now lured us into setting a two-test precedent, "in a nod to the upcoming world T20".

If you ever see 'third Test of New Zealand's tour' written again, it could well be Bangladesh. Two tests are slated for England next May "as an Ashes warm-up", so that'll be all of the major nations who've succeeded in that little de-friending coup of precedence.

Sucks to be us.

Although we reap what we sow, Bracewell as coach, Turner as chief selector. These are guys who valued limited overs above test cricket. (in their own post-playing days). Let alone our own scheduling & CEOs.

Only way to fix it;
a) value test cricket ourselves
b) be less **** at it
c) then hope people are kind to us ....

Oh **** me. India's now lured us into setting a two-test precedent, "in a nod to the upcoming world T20".

If you ever see 'third Test of New Zealand's tour' written again, it could well be Bangladesh. Two tests are slated for England next May "as an Ashes warm-up", so that'll be all of the major nations who've succeeded in that little de-friending coup of precedence.

That's painful. Though tbf isn't this India tour over and above FTP requirements anyway? we only toured them not long ago.

What is vastly more crap is the prospect of two tests v the Windies (tbc). The two bottom test teams (ish) who are both supposed to be moving up in the world. Evenly matched and separated by 2 measly points on the ladder. And we get TWO tests! Why even bother? If we are lucky it might even be rain affected and end 0-0 like the last waste of time WI tour of NZ.

T20 WC is going to be a total turd btw. Doubt I will even summon the energy to watch.

That's painful. Though tbf isn't this India tour over and above FTP requirements anyway? we only toured them not long ago.

What is vastly more crap is the prospect of two tests v the Windies (tbc). The two bottom test teams (ish) who are both supposed to be moving up in the world. Evenly matched and separated by 2 measly points on the ladder. And we get TWO tests! Why even bother? If we are lucky it might even be rain affected and end 0-0 like the last waste of time WI tour of NZ.

T20 WC is going to be a total turd btw. Doubt I will even summon the energy to watch.

The West Indies tour should have 3 tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is. The Indian tour should have 3 tests. This FTP has only been out for like nine months and we've already lost test matches in separate tours.

I need u like Henry Nicholls needs batting school
He was terrible in that series
I need u like Ross Taylor needed to be fit
He's way better than Henry Nicholls
And now all I can think about is your smile
and that ****** test series too
Losing to Australia sucked and I miss you

Yeah still have fingers crossed that it's a proper 3 test series v West Indies.

Still a bit confused as to whether our tour of India is part of the regular FTP or not - I have a feeling I read something a while ago that India had agreed to something along those lines. We must have kissed some ass to get that if so!